Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Babayo GAGDI & the quest for 3rd term in PKK
Dakwom Long’gul writes from Jos, Plateau state ..…
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The political atmosphere in the Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency shifted yesterday, April 17, 2026, revealing a stark contrast in perspectives.
While the Kanam Progressive Movement (KPPM) gathered in a robust show of solidarity to endorse Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi for a third term, a” small group” at Nefur Arena in Pankshin expressed dissent.
However, the reality on the ground suggests that the “No to Third Term” sentiment often overlooks the unprecedented dividends of democracy Gagdi has delivered. Representation is not a seat to be occupied by rotation; it is a vehicle for development. For the first time, PKK has moved from the fringes of legislative relevance to the center stage of national influence, making this bid less about Gagdi’s ambition and more about the constituency’s continued progress.
The argument that leadership should be a “turn-by-turn” arrangement, where positions are shared like a meal—is a dated philosophy that prioritizes geography over merit. True service, as demonstrated by Hon. Gagdi, focuses on capacity and the “privilege” of effective advocacy.
In the Nigerian legislative system, experience is the most valuable currency. Unlike the executive branch, our laws allow legislators to serve multiple terms precisely because seniority yields influence. Figures like Senator Ali Ndume, who has been in the National Assembly since 2003, and others like Hon. Nicholas Mutu, proves that longevity leads to committee chairmanships and the ability to attract massive federal projects. Replacing a high-performing incumbent with a newcomer simply for the sake of “rotation” is akin to resetting a clock just as it reaches its most productive hour.
The data of Gagdi’s tenure speaks louder than the slogans of any protest. His representation has been defined by tangible “firsts”: from the sponsorship of the landmark Police Reform Bill to the massive overhaul of educational infrastructure across all three local governments.Plus a generation of youths whose life has change as a result of permanent employment Facilitated and secured by Hon. Gagdi ( too many to mention)
While critics point to the former Speaker from Pankshin North as a potential alternative, a side-by-side comparison of legislative footprints shows a significant gap in national reach and local impact. Gagdi has turned the PKK constituency into a model of “politics of presence,” where thousands of students have received scholarships and rural communities have seen more water projects in the last seven years than in the previous twenty combined.
Ultimately, a third term for Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi should be viewed not as a right he is demanding, but as a privilege the people of PKK can choose to enjoy. Leadership is not a “sharing of the cake” ( Cham Lol lok) between elites; it is about who can best bring the “bakery” to the doorsteps of the common man.
At this junction, the constituency faces a choice between the uncertainty of starting over and the security of proven performance. As the 2027 race begins to take shape, the focus must remain on who has the capacity to navigate the halls of the National Assembly to bring home the most for the people. In the case of PKK, the evidence suggests that continuity is the shortest path to prosperity.
Dakwom Long’gul is a public intellectual, critical mind, a street/ citizen reporter.
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